English 335 (Literature in English after 1900—not American)
Course Overview
This course covers literature written in English (excluding American literature) from 1900 to the mid-20th C. It spans a major historical period including the fading influence of the British empire, two world wars, women’s suffrage, global post-colonial movements and the growth of a class system. Modern consumerist society, corporate economics and technological growth began to shape the society of the late 20th C.
The literature at the turn of the century was marked by the shift from late 19th C. Victorian trends to Modernist innovation, followed by an increase in circulation of diasporic texts written in English, informed by both post-colonialism and growing cultural diversity. The groundwork for many contemporary social and cultural issues can be traced to early 20th C. events, as reflected in its literature written in English. The writings of these turbulent and world-changing decades are relevant to many of today’s socio-cultural issues, and to an important era of literary studies.
Text (At Revolution Books)
The Norton Anthology of English Literature (9th Ed., 2012) Vol. F
Evaluation
1) Two analytical essays (4 pages each)
2) In-class midterm with a take-home essay component
3) Occasional quizzes (announced or unannounced) and occasional writing assignments (in-class or take-home) to encourage timely reading of the works
4) In-class final exam with a take-home essay component
5) Student attendance and participation